Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
06 March.2017: 06 Jamadiul Akhir 1438:Vol:8, No:134
INDIA
Babri Demolition Case: Won't accept dropping of conspiracy charges against Advani, Joshi, Bharti, other leaders, says Supreme Court
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/rzk8hwanNwteMj7xQTJNAJ/Babri-Masjid-case-SC-keeps-options-open-on-conspiracy-charg.html
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday kept its options open on examining the dropping of conspiracy charge against accused like LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti in the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.The apex court also came up with the option of ordering a joint trial of cases arising out of the two FIRs lodged in the wake of the demolition of the disputed structure.“There are 13 persons who were discharged only on technical grounds. Today, we are saying why can’t we club both the cases and have a joint trial,” a bench comprising justices P.C. Ghose and R.F. Nariman said. “We will not accept the discharge on technical grounds and we will allow supplementary charge sheet,” the bench said. These observations were made orally during a brief hearing by the bench, which posted the matter for further hearing on 22 March. However, the clubbing of two FIRs was opposed by the counsel for the accused on the ground that there were different sets of persons named as accused in the two cases, the trial of which were at an advanced stage at two different places. They were of the view that joint trial would lead to the beginning of proceedings de novo (afresh). Altogether, 13 persons including Advani, Joshi and Bharti were discharged of conspiracy charge in the case, the trial of which is being held at a special court in Raebareli. The second set of case was against unknown ‘karsevaks’ who were in and around the disputed structure and the trial was being held at a court in Lucknow.The appeals were filed by one Haji Mahboob Ahmad (since dead) and CBI against dropping of conspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, Joshi and 19 others for demolition of the Masjid.During the hearing, the bench also said that supplementary charge sheet was filed against 8 persons but not against the 13 who were discharged. Besides BJP leaders Advani, Joshi and Bharti, conspiracy charges were dropped against Kalyan Singh (presently governor of Rajasthan), Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore (both have since died).The others against whom the conspiracy charge was dropped include Vinay Katiyar, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Satish Pradhan, CR Bansal, Ashok Singhal (now deceased), Sadhvi Ritambhara, Mahant Avaidhynath (now deceased), R V Vedanti, Paramhans Ram Chandra Das (now deceased), Jagdish Muni Maharaj, BL Sharma, Nritya Gopal Das, Dharam Das, Satish Nagar and Moreshwar Save (now deceased).In the appeal, it has been sought to set aside the Allahabad High Court’s order of 20 May, 2010, which had dropped section 120B (criminal conspiracy) under the IPC while upholding a special court’s decision. In September 2015, the CBI had told the apex court that its decision-making was not influenced by anyone and the dropping of criminal conspiracy charge against senior BJP leaders in the case was not at its instance.PTI
Babri Masjid demolition: SC calls for speedy trial with Advani, Joshi, Bharti to face charges again
http://www.firstpost.com/india/babri-masjid-demolition-sc-calls-for-speedy-trial-with-advani-uma-bharti-to-face-charges-again-3317382.html
Babri Masjid demolition: SC wants trial against Advani, Joshi, Uma, other accused expedited
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/babri-masjid-case-supreme-court-advani-murli-joshi/1/897689.html
Babri demolition: SC may revive conspiracy charges against Advani, Bharti, other BJP leaders
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/babri-demolition-sc-might-revive-conspiracy-charges-against-13-bjp-vhp-leaders/story-NiGoDZYFItJ9haUsmIdeNO.html
Babri case: SC may examine reviving conspiracy charges against Advani, Joshi, Bharti
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-to-take-up-babri-masjid-demolition-case-on-march-22/article17416752.ece
Demonetisation: SC asks govt, RBI why banned notes deposits are not allowed until 31 March
http://www.firstpost.com/business/not-allowed-to-deposit-demonetised-notes-sc-asks-rbi-and-centre-to-respond-to-a-plea-3317524.html
The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre and RBI on a plea alleging that people were not being allowed to deposit demonetised currency notes till March 31 as promised."Issue notice returnable by Friday," a bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar said and asked petitioner Sharad Mishra to serve the copy of its notice to the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India during the course of the day. Several petitions were also filed by companies and individuals over the government going back on its decision to extend the date of depositing demonetised notes till 31 March.The plea referred to the speech of PM Narendra Modi on Nov.8, 2016, when he said that citizens would be allowed to deposit the demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 beyond the cut-off date of 31 Dec., 2016 till 31 March, 2017.“There may be some who for some reason, are not able to deposit their old 500 or 1,000 rupee notes by Dec.30, 2016. “They can go to specified offices of RBI up to March 31, 2017 and deposit the notes after submitting a declaration form," PM Narendra Modi told in his address to the nation on 8 Nov.The bench considered the argument that RBI's last ordinance, which permits only those persons who were outside India during the stipulated period to deposit the demonetised currency notes till March 31, is a breach of assurances given by the PM and the RBI. firstpost
Why you went back on promise to extend cut-off date to deposit old notes, SC asks govt.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-go-back-on-promise-to-extend-cutoff-date-to-deposit-old-notes-sc-asks-govt/article17416591.ece
Demonetization: SC issues notice to Centre, RBI on plea alleging non-acceptance of banned notes
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-demonetization-sc-issues-notice-to-centre-rbi-on-plea-alleging-non-acceptance-of-banned-notes-2343785
Don't have minimum balance in your SBI account? Get ready to pay fine from April 1
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/dont-have-minimum-balance-in-your-sbi-account-get-ready-to-pay-fine-from-april-1/printarticle/57452102.cms
New Delhi: After a gap of five years, State Bank of India has decided to reintroduce penalty on non-maintenance of minimum balance in accounts from April 1, and revised charges on other services, including ATMs. The country's largest bank will permit savings bank account holders to deposit cash three times a month free of charges and levy Rs 50 plus service tax on every transaction beyond that. In case of current account, the levy could go as high as Rs 20,000. As per the list of revised charges of SBI, failure to maintain Monthly Average Balance (MAB) in accounts will attract penalty of up to Rs 100 plus service tax. In metropolitan areas, there will be a charge of Rs 100 plus service tax, if the balance falls below 75 per cent of the MAB of Rs 5,000. If the shortfall is 50 per cent or less of MAB, then the bank will charge Rs 50 plus service tax. The charges and MAB varies according to the location of bank. It is minimum in case of rural branches. RBI has permitted banks to levy charges for breaching minimum balance limit. Withdrawal of cash from ATMs will attract a charge of up to Rs 20 if the number of transactions exceeds three from other bank's ATMs in a month and Rs 10 for more than 5 withdrawals from SBI ATMs. economictimes
SBI will penalise you for keeping low balance in account; ATM charges revised
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/state-bank-of-india-minimum-balance-fine-transaction-charges-hike/1/897364.html
Revised bank charges: Here’s why and how much you have to pay
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/57489534.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
SBI, HDFC, Axis and ICICI Bank: All you need to know about the revised transaction charges
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-sbi-hdfc-axis-and-icici-bank-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-revised-transaction-charges-2343893
Cash transactions charges most retrograde step: Chidambaram
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/cash-transactions-charges-most-retrograde-step-chidambaram_8597281.html?utm_source=ref_article
The move by some public and private banks to levy charges after certain number of cash transactions at branches is the most retrograde step, ex-Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. Banks including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank at present charge a minimum Rs 150 per transaction for cash deposits and withdrawals beyond 4 free transactions in a month. "Bank charges for depositing cash and withdrawing cash is most retrograde step," he tweeted. moneycontrol
J&K saw 3-fold increase in rioting in 2016: State police data
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-saw-three-fold-increase-in-rioting-in-2016-state-police-data/story-72PBpcZew841nnmpq0bgxL.html
Jammu: J&K saw a 3-fold increase in cases of rioting and a substantial rise in arson cases in 2016 which also witnessed five-month-long unrest after killing of Burhaan Wani, official data showed.According to data of crime branch of state police, J&K has witnessed as many as 3,404 cases of rioting in 2016 as compared to 1,157 such cases in 2015, an increase of 2,247.Similarly, police registered as many as 267 cases of arson in 2016 as compared to 147 such cases in 2015, thereby showing an increase of 120 during the period, it said. Crime branch officials point towards this increase because of the 2016 unrest in Kashmir Valley for 5 months following killing of Wani in July.There has also been an increase of 143 cases of attempt to murder from 2015 to 2016.PTI
Terror funding: NIA summons 13 J&K traders
http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/terror-funding-nia-summons-13-jk-traders/articleshow/57472554.cms
NIA has summoned 13 traders from J&K to Delhi on suspicion of funding terrorism.The agency found irregularities in the trade dealing of these businessmen with the counterparts in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. “It seems they have used their resources to fund terrorist activities in the state, mainly the Kashmir valley,” sources said.Mumbai Mirror
Mumbai university students rap ABVP for silencing dissent on campuses
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-university-students-rap-abvp-for-silencing-dissent-on-campuses/story-IbbfnBgQoE3pNPUXHwraBI.html
Mumbai: Nearly 100 students from various student organisations staged a protest rally at the Kalina campus of University of Mumbai (MU) on Saturday against recent instances of violence at JNU and Ramjas College of Delhi University (DU).The protestors blamed the ABVP, a right-wing student group, for trying to suppress free speech in college campuses across the country. A week earlier, ABVP protested at Kalina campus, demanding action against 'anti-national' elements in various universities. "Emboldened by the BJP-led govt at the centre, ABVP is trying to muzzle freedom of expression at campuses. The hooliganism in the name of nationalism must end and ABVP activists must be arrested," said Suvarna Salve, a member of Samata Vidyarthi Aghadi. Speaking on the occasion, Obaidur Rahman Ansari, city president of Students Islamic Organisation of India, said there is an atmosphere of fear in colleges. "Universities are supposed to be the placers where students engage in constructive activities, but now we see destruction everywhere. There's no trace of Najeeb Ahmed, despite the Supreme Court's intervention in the matter," he added. Jenny Sulfath, a member of Radical Study Circle, a student group at TISS, said the discourse around nationalism is aimed at suppressing other national identities in the country. "ABVP is calling students [who don't agree with them] anti-national. One should consider other voices from the country, including those who don't want to be a part of the country," she said.HT
Ex-servicemen hold protest in support of Gurmehar Kaur; flays RSS, ABVP
http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/ex-servicemen-hold-protest-in-support-of-gurmehar-kaur-flays-rss-abvp/story-0Xa5pdgYYtSzQfrL08MN5J.html
Patiala:Ex-servicemen held a protest march in support of Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur, a Kargil martyr's daughter, who recently stood up against campus violence. Over 150 people, under the banner of the State Ex-servicemen Welfare Association (SEWA), took out a march from the war memorial on the YPS Chowk and marched through Fountain Chowk and Lower Mmall.SEWA president Colonel (retd) Kuldip Grewal said that the ideology of the RSS and its student wing ABVP is being turned into an un-christened law of the land with its political wing, BJP, has long maintained silence over their wrongdoings.The definition of nationalism, he said, was fiddled with to thrust upon a particular line of fundamentalism on the people of all castes and creeds. Educational institutions have become battlefields of affiliated political outfits of students. Atmosphere of fear is being created among peace-loving people, he added. hindustantimes
More than half of under-5 kids in India are anaemic
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/more-than-half-of-under-5-kids-in-india-are-anaemic/articleshow/57485195.cms
In a stark and chilling reminder of the realities of life in India, the recently released family health survey (NFHS 4) results show that over 58% of children below five years of age are anaemic, that is, they suffer from insufficient haemoglobin in the blood, leaving them exhausted, vulnerable to infections, and possibly affecting their brain development. The survey, which was carried out in 2015-16 and covered six lakh households, also showed that around 38% of children in the same age group were stunted, 21% were wasted and 36% underweight.While all the internationally accepted markers of children's health have improved since the last such survey in 2005-06, the levels of undernourishment, caused mainly by poverty+ , are still high and the improvement too slow.Based on the 2011 Census data, the total number of children under five in India in 2015 is projected at 12.4 crore. So, around 7.2 crore children are anaemic, nearly 5 crore are stunted, around 2.6 crore are wasted and 4.4 crore are underweight. These numbers are not too different from those in 2005-06. Since population has increased, their share is down.
Police find 19 female fetuses dumped in sewer
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1063981/world
Mumbai: Indian police said Monday they had found 19 aborted female fetuses dumped in a sewer in the western state of Maharashtra, highlighting the country’s problem of female feticide.Prenatal sex tests are illegal in India, a policy designed to stop unborn girls being aborted by parents desperate for a boy.But the tests are still thought to be common, particularly in poor rural areas, and sex ratios are skewed toward males across India.“We have recovered 19 fetuses and are trying to arrest the doctor, who is absconding,” Dattatray Shinde, a police superintendent in Maharasthra’s Sangli district, told AFP.He said the fetuses were found late Sunday wrapped in blue plastic bags in a sewer next to a clinic run by doctor Babasaheb Khidrapure in the village of Mhaisal.Officers made the discovery after a 26-year-old woman died during a failed abortion attempt at the surgery, Shinde said.AFP/ arabnews
Uttarakhand ‘Death in custody’:16yr Ziauddin cried for 2 days,says family;died hours after FIR filed
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttarakhand-16-year-old-cried-for-two-days-says-family-died-hours-after-fir-against-him-4556129/
Uttarakhand: For two days, Ziauddin Raza’s family says, they kept visiting Katoratal police outpost in Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand with food and tea for him, begging the police to let him go. On the third, an FIR was registered naming him in a case of elopement. Hours later, the 16-year-old was found dead. The family got a call from LD Bhatt Govt Hospital on Feb.28 asking them to collect his body. The shoes and jacket he was wearing were found absent, and later recovered from the police outpost after a probe started. Zaiuddin’s phone remains missing.4 policemen have since been suspended, while the family of the girl whom Ziauddin allegedly helped flee is absconding. Subdivisional Magistrate Dayanand Saswati, who is leading the magisterial probe, has ruled out any arrests as of now, saying the initial postmortem indicated “he (Ziauddin) hanged himself”. An FIR has been registered against Constable Balwant Singh, Sub-Inspector Praveen Singh and other unidentified policemen. The girl, 15, at the centre of the incident, had gone missing from her home in Kajibagh on Feb.25. Constable Shankar Tamta, the new in-charge of Katoratal police outpost, says her father made an ‘oral’ complaint and blamed Ziauddin.Ziauddin’s father Mohammad Yameen says that at 9am on Feb.26, a policeman called up his son and summoned him to the Katoratal chowki in connection with the girl’s disappearance. Tamta says police had found calls by the girl to his phone. “We got scared and took the boy to the outpost, hoping that his name would be cleared. But they detained him,” says Yameen, a 58-year-old daily wager who earns around Rs 5,000 a month. The family’s version is corroborated by Younis Chaudhary, a state Congress secretary, who says he accompanied the family and Ziauddin to the police outpost. “Ziauddin was very scared. I told him we must go and clear his name. Ziauddun was a decent child, I met him every day and complimented him on his hairstyle. He could not have taken his life,” says Younis. Says Yameen, “When we met him on Feb.27, he looked battered. He was crying and was very scared. The policemen, I don’t know their names, said we would be also taken into custody. The girl’s father was present too, and kept insisting that Ziauddin knew where his daughter was.”He also claims that the girl had called up her father while they were at the police station and said she was fine, and that Ziauddin was not involved. “That angered the father more.”Ziauddin’s uncle Mohammad Salim, 45, claims he saw the policemen “thrashing” his nephew on Feb.28.Indian Express
Reservation for Muslims: Telangana JAC proposes discussion on Sudheer Report
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2017/mar/06/reservation-for-muslims-telangana-jac-proposes-discussion-on-sudheer-report-1578120.html
Nizamabad: Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) has decided to meet floor leaders of all political parties in Assembly and Council to urge them to discuss G Sudheer Commission Report and its recommendations with regard to providing 12 per cent reservations to Muslim minorities. The commission has already submitted its report to the government.TJAC Nizamabad district committee organised a minority convention on Sudheer Commission Report here on Sunday and TJAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram participated in the meeting.TJAC is conducting district level meetings in all the districts on Sudheer Committee and the series will be concluded on March 11 in Warangal. Newindianexpress
Cancellation of book session an act of self-censorship: Teesta Setalvad
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cancellation-of-book-session-an-act-of-self-censorship-teesta-setalvad-4555961/
New Delhi:Activist Teesta Setalvad, a session on whose book has been cancelled by Oxford Bookstore, Sunday hit out at its management, terming it as an act of “self-censorship”. The popular bookstore in Delhi has cancelled the session that was scheduled to be held on Monday, citing “volatile” situation in the city in the wake of back-to-back student protests.“It appears to be an act of self-censorship. There was absolutely no need for it. It is sad that such things are happening in the capital of the country. We are dealing with forces that cannot tolerate dissent of any kind, particularly political dissent,” Setalvad told PTI. She said that the book had a “fantastic release” in Mumbai and sessions on it were held in Varanasi and in the JNU in Delhi.PTI
Dear Digvijay Singh, you are wrong in comparing madrasas with RSS-run schools:
http://twocircles.net/2017mar06/405856.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
How India Rolls Out Red Carpet for Israeli Entrepreneurs and Sub-Standard Products: Tariq Farooqui, Caravan Daily
http://caravandaily.com/portal/how-india-rolls-out-red-carpet-for-israeli-entrepreneurs-and-sub-standard-products/
WORLD
US delegation explores moving embassy to Jerusalem
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/delegation-explores-moving-embassy-jerusalem-170305150341692.html
A US delegation is in Israel exploring the possibility of relocating the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that Palestinian officials have strongly warned against.The delegation is led by Ron DeSantis, a Republican congressman, who is expected to meet Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, during the two-day trip which ends on Sunday. "The delegation is in Jerusalem to learn first hand what it will mean to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," said Ruth Lieberman, a friend of DeSantis and a political adviser in Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post.US President Donald Trump repeatedly promised the move during his election campaign and pledged to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Palestinians criticised such promises as they hope to make East Jerusalem the capital of their future state, and have had the broad support of the international community for that aspiration.US has two consulate-general buildings in West Jerusalem.One mainly deals with diplomacy with Palestinians, while another building issues visas to people who live in Jerusalem and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza."If the US were to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem ... it would be effectively recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith, reporting from West Jerusalem."It would also be taking away from the Palestinians the separate recognition that these consulate general offices give them." Aljazeera
US warned Israel against annexing West Bank: Israeli Defence Minister Lieberman
http://www.worldbulletin.net/todays-news/185832/us-warned-israel-against-annexing-west-bank-minister
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday that the United States has warned that annexing the West Bank would lead to an "immediate crisis" with President Donald Trump's administration.He said annexation would provoke a crisis with Washington and result in steep costs for the Israeli government since it would be required to provide services to Palestinians in the West Bank."We have received a very clear, direct message from the United States stating that the application of Israeli law in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) would provoke an immediate crisis with the new administration," Lieberman said before a parliamentary committee.World Bulletin
Ex-S. African leader pessimistic about 2-state solution
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/185807/ex-s-african-leader-pessimistic-about-2-state-solution
Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has said Israeli’s continued construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories rendered the two-state solution unworkable.Speaking at the launch of the Israeli Apartheid Week in Johannesburg Sunday, Motlanthe said he supported the possibility of a democratic one-state system.“The formation of a new political identity within a one-state solution will no doubt be a difficult process that requires compromises on all sides,” he said in his address.The Israeli Apartheid Week is an "international series of events that seeks to raise awareness of Israel’s settler-colonial project and apartheid system over the Palestinian people".The former South African leader said the two-state solution has been difficult to achieve for many years because of several pressing issues and different demands from the two sides.World Bulletin
Israeli settlement operations in West Bank continue
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170305-israeli-settlement-operations-in-west-bank-continue/
As Israeli authorities plan to establish a new settlement project in the south of Jerusalem, the Israeli forces have embarked on bulldozing an agricultural land near the southern Nahalin village of Bethlehem.Ibrahim Shakarnah, the President of the Nahalin Villagers Council, has said that the Israeli bulldozers have begun demolishing the village’s main highway, which has been closed some years ago, including the “Danielle” settlement as well as other neighbouring areas, in a move to establish a public resort for the settlers. Speaking in an interview with Quds Press, Shakarnah explained that the demolish of what he described as “historical road” of the Nahalin village, came after an appeal for re-opening the road was filed to the Israeli Supreme Court. The road was confiscated in 2002 and leads to the city of Bethlehem. Middleeastmonitor
Donald Trump to sign new travel ban executive order 'excluding Iraq'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-travel-ban-muslim-executive-order-sign-iraq-refugees-immigration-restriction-a7613486.html
Donald Trump was poised on Monday to sign a new executive order banning travel from certain Muslim-majority countries, a senior White House source was quoted as saying.The new order, replacing an earlier version that was blocked by federal judges, will exclude Iraq from the black-listed countries, but continue to block entry to the US for citizens of Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya and Yemen.It will also clarify the status of people from these countries who have already received US green cards, specifying that they are not affected. Tens of thousands of legal permanent residents were left in limbo by Mr Trump's previous order. Independent
Report: More than 200,000 displaced by Mosul conflict
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/report-200000-displaced-mosul-conflict-170305101507795.html
More than 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of the Iraqi forces' battle to retake the city of Mosul from ISIL that began in October, according to a Switzerland-based nongovernmental organisation.The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates, in a report released on Sunday, said 45,000 people have fled west Mosul since the push to seize it from ISIL, or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group, began in Feb.More than 17,000 people arrived from west Mosul on February 28 alone, while over 13,000 came on March 3, according to the IOM. Aljazeera
US raid ‘mistakenly’ kills 33 ex-Iraqi forces in Mosul
http://www.worldbulletin.net/todays-news/185829/us-raid-mistakenly-kills-33-ex-iraqi-forces-in-mosul
At least 33 former members of Iraqi security forces were killed in a U.S.-led coalition raid in western Mosul on Monday, according to a local police officer. Federal police officer Abdullah al-Mayahi said ISIL militants had held dozens of former members of the security forces to question them about an alleged collaboration with the Iraqi army. He said a coalition warplane mistakenly fired two missiles into a train station, where the captives were held. “The strike killed 33 former security forces members and injured eight others,” he said. According to al-Mayahi, a number of ISIL militants were killed and injured in the airstrikes. “ISIL has tried to cover up his crime by claiming that the bombed site was hosting refugee families,” the police officer said. World Bulletin
Syria is a ‘testing ground’ for new Russian weapons
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170305-syria-is-a-testing-ground-for-new-russian-weapons/
Russia has tested 162 types of new weapons in its combat in Syria, its defence minister said, hailing the military’s performance in the war-torn country, in which more than 310,000 people have been killed.The weapons have proven their worth in the conflict, Sergei Shoigu told the Russian parliament last month, adding that ‘only’ 10 weapons failed to meet expectations. Among the new weapons tested in combat for the first time in Syria were long-range cruise missiles carried by navy ships and strategic bombers. middleeastmonitor
11 Soldiers killed in Mali attack as violence surges
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/soldiers-killed-mali-attack-violence-surges-170306043203675.html
11 soldiers have been killed and five wounded in an attack on a military base in Mali as rival armed groups surrounded the city of Timbuktu.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack near the border with Burkina Faso on Sunday but armed groups, including al-Qaeda affiliates, have been increasingly active in recent months, attacking army posts beyond their usual strongholds in the north. aljazeera
Houthis: America should cooperate with us for effective attacks on Al-Qaeda
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170306-houthis-america-should-cooperate-with-us-for-effective-attacks-on-al-qaeda/
Houthi militias and their allies yesterday condemned US attacks on Al-Qaeda in Yemen, saying they would never be “fruitful” if America doesn’t cooperate with them, the Anadolu Agency reported.Over the past the past couple of days, the US has increased its attacks on what it claimed are Al-Qaeda bases in Yemen. News reports spoke of more than 30 attacks in the governorates of Al-Baydaa, Abyan and Shabwa. Yemeni news agency run by the Houthis reported an official saying: “Houthis and forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh reiterated that the unliteral American military measures violate the national sovereignty of Yemen.” Official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed: “The attacks will never be fruitful without security and intelligence cooperation with our authorities which fight Al-Qaeda and Daesh.” Middleeastmonitor
Seoul says North Korea carried out missile tests
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/seoul-north-korea-carried-missile-tests-170306035312540.html
North Korea has fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan's northwest coast, South Korean and Japanese officials said, days after the reclusive state promised retailiation over US-South Korea military drills it sees as a preparation for war.Seoul said four missiles were fired from North Pyongan province into the East Sea on Monday and that South Korea and the United States were "closely analysing" tracking data for further details. aljazeera
Iran: Hajj issues with Saudi Arabia resolved
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170306-iran-hajj-issues-with-saudi-arabia-resolved/
Most of the outstanding issues with Saudi Arabia regarding Iranian pilgrims have been resolved, the caretaker of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation Hamid Mohammadi said.Mohammadi said the Iranian delegation proposed to Saudi Arabia that representatives from Iran participate in the fact-finding committee on the Mina stampede incident in order to reach a final and comprehensive settlement, Iran’s IRNA reported.Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri described the last round of negotiations with Saudi officials as “successful”, where “some issues were settled and we will discuss the rest of the issues in the next round of negotiations”. middleeastmonitor
Turkey holds over 1,300 terror suspects in one week
http://aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-holds-over-1-300-terror-suspects-in-one-week/764983
Ankara: More than 1,300 terror suspects were arrested in Turkey over the past seven days, the Interior Ministry said Monday. Among them are 920 suspected members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO); of those, 45 were remanded in custody, said the statement. Turkish government holds FETO responsible for the deadly July 2016 coup attempt. Others included 386 PKK -- 32 remanded -- and 12 Daesh suspects.Police also detained 12 other suspects over alleged links to a leftist terrorist group. Anadolu Agency
Taliban in police uniform kill 6 Afghan officers
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/taliban-in-police-uniform-kill-6-afghan-officers/764577
Kabul: A group of Taliban militants wearing security forces’ uniforms killed 6 policemen in northern Afghanistan on Sunday, a provincial police chief said. Gen. Abdul Hamid Hamid said a large group of Taliban fighters attacked the check post of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Kunduz province early Sunday morning, killing 6 officers in the Zakhil area of the 3rd police district. Safiullah Amiri, a member of the provincial council, told Anadolu Agency the attackers fled the scene with the arms and equipment belonging to the security forces. Anadolu Agency
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:31 PM)
